1.6 common functions and their graphs

（5）Absolute Value Functions

Let’s have a look at functions like: . And the definition of this function is: . Another way to understand this function is that  stands for the distance between zero and x. Generally speaking,  stands for the distance between the point of x and the point of y on the number line.

The graphs of absolute value functions vary from which function is inside the absolute value symbol. It pretty much likes the graphs of the function inside the absolute value symbol. However, it reflects about the x axis. There are two examples of these functions.

Except the trig functions (which we’ll use a chapter to discuss it), these are all the common functions you may need when you are learning calculus.